Information processing apparatus and information processing method having communication function

ABSTRACT

The present invention is an information processing apparatus which obtains identification information of an electronic device and makes communication with the electronic device via a network based on the identification information. When a portable telephone ( 11 ) is placed on an input display section ( 2 ) of a personal computer ( 1 ), a reader/writer built in the personal computer ( 1 ) reads a telephone number of the portable telephone ( 11 ) stored in an RF tag built in the portable telephone ( 11 ). Based on the telephone number, a telephone line is connected between the portable telephone ( 11 ) and the personal computer ( 1 ). Data is interchanged between the portable telephone ( 11 ) and the personal computer ( 1 ) via the telephone line.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus andan information processing method having a communication function andenabling information interchange and further to an electronic device, aninformation processing system, and a recording medium. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to an information processingapparatus and an information processing method for enabling easy andreliable communication between a plurality of apparatuses and further toan electronic device, an information processing system, and a recordingmedium.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a portable telephone, a PDA (Personal DigitalAssistant), etc. are used. Users increasingly have a chance tointerchange information between a plurality of these devices.

For such information interchange, devices are connected to each othervia a cradle or a cable. Alternatively, infrared transceivers of thedevices are faced to each other for sending and receiving information.

A cable connection is not only complicated, but also requires aconnector specific to the device type, making a connection worktroublesome.

In the case of the infrared connection, the communication is interruptedby blocking off infrared rays when a user inadvertently crosses aninfrared transmission path, for example.

To solve these problems, it is proposed to perform wirelesscommunication between a plurality of devices by using a wireless LAN(Local Area Network), a near wireless LAN such as Bluetooth (trademark),etc.

For the wireless communication, a user must enter an address of thecommunication device. Normally since the user does not always rememberaddresses of respective devices, he or she creates, e.g., an addresslist and manually enters an address by referring to the list. This isinconvenient and degrades operability. When information is interchangedbetween a PAD owned by the user and a separate device installed beforethe user, he or she must enter a destination device address, making afast information interchange difficult.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in consideration of the foregoing.It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide aninformation processing apparatus and an information processing method,and further an electronic device and an information processing systemcapable of easily and fast interchanging information.

An information processing apparatus according to the present inventioncomprises: a detection means for detecting that an electronic device isclosely positioned; an acquisition means for acquiring identificationinformation of the electronic device when the detection means detectsthat the electronic device is closely positioned; and a communicationmeans for communicating with the electronic device via a network basedon the identification information.

The acquisition means can acquire an address of the network for theelectronic device as the identification information. The presentinvention can further comprise a search means for searching for anaddress on the network for the electronic device based on theidentification information obtained by the acquisition means. Theacquisition means can include a reader/writer which communicates with anRF tag provided for the electronic device to obtain the identificationinformation.

The acquisition means may communicate with the electronic device via ahuman body to obtain the identification information.

The present invention further comprises an execution means for executinga specified process between the apparatus and the electronic device. Theexecution means can send data to the electronic device or receive datasent from the electronic device.

An information processing method according to the present inventionincludes: a detection step for detecting that an electronic device isclosely positioned; an acquisition step for acquiring identificationinformation of the electronic device when a process at the detectionstep detects that the electronic device is closely positioned; and acommunication step for communicating with the electronic device via anetwork based on the identification information.

The present invention is a recording medium which records acomputer-readable program. The program recorded on this recording mediumincludes: a detection step for detecting that an electronic device isclosely positioned; an acquisition step for acquiring identificationinformation of the electronic device when a process at the detectionstep detects that the electronic device is closely positioned; and acommunication step for communicating with the electronic device via anetwork based on the identification information.

An electronic device according to the present invention comprises: aprovision means for providing its own identification information to aninformation processing apparatus when the device is closely positionedto the information processing apparatus; and a communication means formaking communication with the information processing apparatus via anetwork after the provision means provides the identificationinformation. Here, the provision means provides an address on thenetwork as the identification information. The provision means caninclude an RF tag which communicates with a reader/writer provided inthe information processing apparatus to provide the identificationinformation.

The provision means can communicate with the information processingapparatus via a human body to provide the identification information.

The electronic device according to the present invention furthercomprises an execution means for executing a specified process betweenthe device and the information processing apparatus. The execution meanssends data to the information processing apparatus or receives data sentfrom the information processing apparatus.

Another information processing method according to the present inventionincludes: a provision step for providing its own identificationinformation to the information processing apparatus when the device isclosely positioned to the information processing apparatus; and acommunication step for making communication with the informationprocessing apparatus via a network after a step at the provision stepprovides the identification information.

Another recording medium according to the present invention records acomputer-readable program. The recorded program includes: a provisionstep for providing its own identification information to the informationprocessing apparatus when the device is closely positioned to theinformation processing apparatus; and a communication step for makingcommunication with the information processing apparatus via a networkafter a step at the provision step provides the identificationinformation.

An information processing system according to the present inventioncomprises an information processing apparatus and an electronic device.The information processing apparatus comprises: a detection means fordetecting that the electronic device is closely positioned; anacquisition means for acquiring identification information of theelectronic device when the detection means detects that the electronicdevice is closely positioned; and a first communication means forcommunicating with the electronic device via a network based on theidentification information. The electronic device comprises: a provisionmeans for providing its own identification information to theinformation processing apparatus when the device is closely positionedto the information processing apparatus; and a second communicationmeans for making communication with the information processing apparatusvia a network after the provision means provides the identificationinformation.

Another information processing apparatus according to the presentinvention comprises: a first detection means for detecting that a firstelectronic device is closely positioned; a second detection means fordetecting that a second electronic device is closely positioned; a firstacquisition means for acquiring first identification information of thefirst electronic device when the first detection means detects that thefirst electronic device is closely positioned; a second acquisitionmeans for acquiring second identification information of the secondelectronic device when the second detection means detects that thesecond electronic device is closely positioned; and a control means forcontrolling communication between the first and second electronicdevices via a network based on the first and second identificationinformation.

Here, the first and second acquisition means obtain an address on thenetwork as the first or second identification information.

Another information processing apparatus according to the presentinvention further comprises a search means for searching for addresseson the network for the first and second electronic devices based on thefirst or second identification information. Here, the first and secondacquisition means include reader/writers which communicate with RF tagsprovided for the first and second electronic devices to obtain theidentification information.

Still another information processing method according to the presentinvention includes: a first detection step for detecting that a firstelectronic device is closely positioned; a second detection step fordetecting that a second electronic device is closely positioned; a firstacquisition step for acquiring first identification information of thefirst electronic device when a process at the first detection stepdetects that the first electronic device is closely positioned; a secondacquisition step for acquiring second identification information of thesecond electronic device when a process at the second detection stepdetects that the second electronic device is closely positioned; and acontrol step for controlling communication between the first and secondelectronic devices via a network based on the first and secondidentification information.

Still another recording medium according to the present invention whichrecords a computer-readable program including: a first detection stepfor detecting that a first electronic device is closely positioned; asecond detection step for detecting that a second electronic device isclosely positioned; a first acquisition step for acquiring firstidentification information of the first electronic device when a processat the first detection step detects that the first electronic device isclosely positioned; a second acquisition step for acquiring secondidentification information of the second electronic device when aprocess at the second detection step detects that the second electronicdevice is closely positioned; and a control step for controllingcommunication between the first and second electronic devices via anetwork based on the first and second identification information.

According to the present invention, detecting the approach of anelectronic device acquires identification information about theelectronic device. Based on the identification information, acommunication connection is established for interchanging data via theelectronic device and a network.

According to the present invention, approaching an informationprocessing apparatus sends identification information to the informationprocessing apparatus. Based on this, a communication connection isestablished for interchanging data via the information processingapparatus and a network.

In an information processing system according to the present invention,the information processing apparatus requests a closely positionedelectronic device to send its identification information. Upon receptionof that request, the electronic device sends its identificationinformation to the information processing apparatus. Based on theidentification information of the electronic device, the informationprocessing apparatus establishes a telephone communication connectionbetween electronic devices etc. for interchanging data via a network.

When a first and a second electronic device are closely positioned inthe present invention, there is acquired a plurality of first and secondidentification information. Based on these pieces of information, acommunication connection is established between the first and secondelectronic devices.

The foregoing and other advantages and features of the present inventionwill become more apparent from the detailed description of the preferredembodiments of the present invention given below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an information processing systemto which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a personalcomputer constituting the information processing system according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a portabletelephone constituting the information processing system according tothe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart which shows personal computer processes in theinformation processing system;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart which shows portable telephone processes in theinformation processing system;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart which shows personal computer processes in theinformation processing system;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart which shows portable telephone processes in theinformation processing system;

FIG. 8 shows data interchange between the portable telephone and thepersonal computer;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart which shows processes of the portable telephone inFIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart which shows processes of the personal computer inFIG. 8;

FIGS. 11A through 11F show examples of data interchange between a PDAand the personal computer;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the PDA inFIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart which shows processes of the PDA in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart which shows operations of the personal computerin FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 shows an example of transferring information between theportable telephone and the personal computer;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart which shows operations of the personal computerin FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart which shows operations of the portable telephonein FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 shows an example of a connection board;

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of theconnection board in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a digitalcamera in FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart which shows processes of the connection board inFIG. 18;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart which shows processes of the PDA in FIG. 18;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart which shows processes of the digital camera inFIG. 18;

FIG. 24 shows an example of interchanging data between a portabletelephone and a headphone;

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of theheadphone in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of theportable telephone in FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart which shows process of the portable telephone inFIG. 24;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart which shows process of the headphone in FIG. 24;

FIGS. 29A and 29B show examples of transfer characteristics of a humanbody;

FIGS. 30A and 30B are characteristic charts for explaining therelationship between electric field strength and distance from anantenna;

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of thepersonal computer in a communication system to which the presentinvention is applied;

FIG. 32 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of theportable telephone in the communication system to which the presentinvention is applied; and

FIG. 33 is a flowchart which shows processes of the communication systemto which the present invention is applied.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An information processing system to which the present invention isapplied has the configuration as shown in FIG. 1. The informationprocessing system in FIG. 1 contains a personal computer 1 comprising aninput display section 2 and a body 3 connected thereto. The inputdisplay section 2 displays specified information and allows input ofspecified information by means of operations of a pen (not shown) etc.thereupon.

When a user places e.g. a portable telephone 11 on the input displaysection 2 as needed, data can be interchanged between the portabletelephone 11 and the personal computer 1.

The personal computer 1 used here has the configuration as shown in FIG.2. The personal computer 1 contains a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21which executes various processes according to a program stored in ROM(Read Only Memory) 22 or a storage section 26. RAM 23 appropriatelystores programs executed by the CPU 21, data, etc. The CPU 21, the ROM22, and the RAM 23 are connected to each other via a bus 24. The bus 24connects with an input/output interface 25. The input/output interface25 connects with the input display section 2, the storage section 26comprising a hard disc, etc., and a communication section 27communicating with the portable telephone 11, e.g., via a telephoneline.

The input display section 2 is provided with a transparent tablet 31 andan LCD 32. The tablet 31 detects a user's pen operation. The LCD 32 isplaced under the tablet 31 and displays images such as characters,shapes, etc. The input display section 2 is further provided with areader/writer 33 which communicates with an RF tag 72 (see FIG. 3) forthe portable telephone 11.

The input/output interface 25 further connects with a drive 28. Thedrive 28 is configured to appropriately install a magnetic disc 41, anoptical disc 42, a magnet-optical disc 43, semiconductor memory 44, etc.A program is read from the magnetic disc 41 through the semiconductormemory 44 and is supplied to the storage section 26 from the drive 28via the input/output interface 25.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the portable telephone 11. A CPU61 through an input/output interface 65 basically have the samefunctions as those for the CPU 21 through the input/output interface 25for the personal computer 1 in FIG. 2, and detailed descriptions thereofare omitted.

In the portable telephone 11, an input/output interface 65 connects withan input section 66 comprising various buttons, switches, etc., and withan LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 67 for displaying specified information.The input/output interface 65 further connects with a storage section 68comprising semiconductor memory, etc. and a communication section 69 forperforming communication via a telephone line.

A microphone 70 receives a voice signal from a user. A speaker 71outputs a voice signal to a user. An RF tag 72 contains an IC,communicates with the reader/writer 33 of the personal computer 1, andsends an internally stored identification number of the portabletelephone 11 to the reader/writer 33. The RF tag 72 has a function tostore data supplied from the reader/writer 33 in built-in memory.

The following describes operations of the personal computer 1 and theportable telephone 11 with reference to flowcharts in FIGS. 4 and 5.When a user wants to perform processing such as interchanging databetween the portable telephone 11 and the personal computer 1, he or sheplaces the portable telephone 11 on a specified position of the inputdisplay section 2. For example, this position is indicated by a dottedline in FIG. 1 where the reader/writer 33 is arranged. The user does notneed to always place the portable telephone 11 on this position. He orshe just needs to bring the portable telephone 11 close to the specifiedposition of the input display section 2 so that the portable telephone11 can receive an electromagnetic wave from the reader/writer 33.

The reader/writer 33 periodically transmits an electromagnetic wave at asufficiently short cycle. When the portable telephone 11 is placed onthe input display section 2, electromagnetic coupling occurs between thereader/writer 33 and the RF tag 72 for the portable telephone 11,changing an equivalent impedance of the antenna in the reader/writer 33.At step S1 in FIG. 4, the reader/writer 33 monitors this impedancechange to determine whether the portable telephone 11 is placed or isclosely positioned, and waits until the portable telephone 11 is placedor closely positioned.

When the portable telephone 11 is placed on the reader/writer 33 or ispositioned close thereto, the reader/writer 33, at step S2, requests theportable telephone 11 to send a network address. Since the networkcomprises a public telephone line in this case, the reader/writer 33requests to send a telephone number of the portable telephone 11.

Based on this request, the portable telephone 11 sends the networkaddress (telephone number). At step S3, the reader/writer 33 waits untilit receives the network address from the portable telephone 11. Uponreception of the network address, the reader/writer 33 proceeds to stepS4 and supplies the CPU 21 with the network address (telephone number)of the portable telephone 11. The CPU 21 supplies this telephone numberto the RAM 23 for storage.

At step S5, the CPU 21 controls the communication section 27 to accessthe network address, stored at step S4, of the portable telephone 11 forestablishing a network connection. More specifically, the communicationsection 27 generates a call to the telephone number stored in the RAM 23and makes a telephone line connection between the personal computer 1and the portable telephone 11.

Thereafter, at step S6, the personal computer 1 performs a specifiedprocess with the portable telephone 11 via the network. An example ofthis process will be described later.

At step S11 in FIG. 5, the RF tag 72 of the portable telephone 11determines whether or not to receive an electromagnetic wave from thereader/writer 33 of the personal computer 1. Namely, the RF tag 72determines whether or not the portable telephone 11 is placed on theinput display section 2 of the personal computer 1 or is positionedclose thereto. When it is determined that the portable telephone 11 isplaced on the input display section 2 or is positioned close thereto,the process proceeds to step S12. The RF tag 72 waits until it isrequested to send a network address. As mentioned above, thereader/writer 33 of the personal computer 1 requests the portabletelephone 11 to transmit a network address at step S2. When it isdetermined that this transmission request is received, the processproceeds to step S13. The RF tag 72 reads the network address of theportable telephone 11, i.e., the telephone number in this case and sendsit to the reader/writer 33. That network address (telephone number) isstored in the internal memory.

A network address can be also stored in the ROM 62 and the storagesection 68. In this case, an address is read by the CPU 61 from thesestorage locations and is sent from the RF tag 72.

At step S14, the CPU 61 for the portable telephone 11 waits until itreceives an access from the personal computer 1 by using thecommunication section 69 via the network. In this case, the CPU 61 waitsuntil it is read via the telephone line.

When the communication section 69 determines at step S14 that a call isreceived from the communication section 27 of the personal computer 1,the process proceeds to step S15. In response to this, a connection isestablished between the portable telephone and the personal computer 1via the network. In this case, the telephone line is connected.

The process then proceeds to step S16. A specified process is performedbetween the portable telephone 11 and the personal computer 1 via thenetwork. This process corresponding to the process at step S6 in FIG. 4.

In the aforementioned example, the telephone number of the portabletelephone 11 is sent and received as identification information. It maybe preferable to send an identification number other than the telephonenumber of the portable telephone 11 from this telephone to the personalcomputer 1. Based on that identification number, the personal computer 1may retrieve the telephone number of the portable telephone 11 as anetwork address.

FIGS. 6 and 7 describe operations of the personal computer 1 and theportable telephone 11, respectively, in this case.

Processes at steps S51 through S56 for the portable telephone 11 in FIG.7 are basically the same as those at steps S11 through S16 in FIG. 5. Adifference from FIG. 5 is that, instead of the telephone number, anidentification number itself is requested from the personal computer 1at step S52 and is transmitted at step S53. The other processes are thesame as those in FIG. 5.

Likewise, processes at steps S31 through S37 in FIG. 6 for the personalcomputer 1 are basically the same as those at steps S1 through S6 inFIG. 4. In FIG. 6, however, the portable telephone 11 sends anidentification number, not the telephone number. At step S34, the CPU 21of the personal computer 1 stores the identification number for theportable telephone 11 in the RAM 23. Then, at step S35, the CPU 21retrieves the telephone number as a network address based on theidentification number for the portable telephone 11. For this retrieval,it may be preferable to use the storage section 26 to previously store atable for correspondence between identification numbers and telephonenumbers for the portable telephone 11. The communication section 27 mayaccess a specified server e.g. via the Internet, etc. to retrieve atelephone number corresponding to the identification number for theportable telephone 11 via the server.

After the telephone number for the portable telephone 11 is retrieved,subsequent processes are the same as those in FIG. 4.

The following further describes an example of processes at step S6 inFIG. 4 (step S37 in FIG. 6) and at step S16 in FIG. 5 (step S56 in FIG.7).

FIG. 8 shows an example of placing the portable telephone 11 on theinput display section 2 or positioning it close thereto. In thisexample, the LCD 32 of the input display section 2 is used to displaythe content of mail registered in the portable telephone 11 with anenlarged display size.

Hereinafter, processes for the portable telephone 11 and the personalcomputer 1 are described with reference to flowcharts in FIGS. 9 and 10.

At step S71, the CPU 61 of the portable telephone 11 reads senders andsubjects of so far received mail messages stored in the RAM 63. At stepS72, the CPU 61 sends senders and subjects of the read mail to thepersonal computer 1. Namely, at this time, the CPU 61 controls thecommunication section 69 to transmit these senders and subjects to thepersonal computer 1 via the telephone line.

As will be described later, the transmitted mail senders and subjectsare displayed on the LCD 32 of the personal computer 1. When the userselects a specified mail message out of the displayed ones, the selectedmail message is transmitted to the portable telephone 11.

At step S73, the CPU 61 waits until selection of the mail is notified.When the mail selection is notified, the process proceeds to step S74.The CPU 61 reads the content of the selected mail from the RAM 63 andallows the communication section 69 to transmit that content to thepersonal computer 1.

In response to this process of the portable telephone 11, the personalcomputer 1 performs the process as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10.

At step S81, the CPU 21 receives the mail senders and subjects if theyare transmitted from the portable telephone 11. Namely, when the mailsenders and subjects are transmitted from the communication section 69of the portable telephone 11 via the telephone line, the communicationsection 27 receives them and supplies them to the RAM 23 for storage. Atstep S82, the CPU 21 reads the senders and subjects stored in the RAM 23and outputs them to the LCD 32 for display. In this manner, as shown inFIG. 8 for example, a window 91 displays the mail senders and subjectstransmitted from the portable telephone 11.

Viewing this display, the user operates a pen to select a mail messageby selecting the sender or the subject of one mail message in the window91. At step S83, the CPU 21 waits until a mail message is selected. Whenthe mail message is selected, the process proceeds to step S84. The CPU21 notifies the portable telephone 11 of the selected mail message.Namely, at this time, the CPU 21 controls the communication section 27to notify the portable telephone 11 of the mail message specified(selected) by the user via the telephone line.

When the selected mail message is notified, the portable telephone 11transmits the content of the selected mail message as mentioned above.At step S85, the communication section 27 receives the mail contenttransmitted from the portable telephone 11. This mail content istemporarily supplied to the RAM 23 for storage. At step S86, the CPU 21reads the mail content stored in the RAM 23. The CPU 21 outputs anddisplays the mail content at the right of the position where theportable telephone 11 is placed on the LCD 32 or at a position specifiedby the user with the pen, i.e., detected from an output of the tablet31. In this manner, as shown in FIG. 8 for example, the window 92displays the selected mail content. In the example of FIG. 8, the secondmail message is selected in the window 91, showing that the sender isBBB, the subject is bb, and the content is “Hello! It's fine today”.

Theoretically, it is possible to interchange mail data by means ofcommunication between the RF tag 72 and the reader/writer 33. Since thiscommunication permits just a small transmission capacity, however, it isused only for transmission of the identification information.

FIG. 11 shows another example of data transferred to/from the personalcomputer 1 via the telephone line. In this example, a PDA 101 instead ofthe portable telephone 11 is placed on or is positioned close to theinput display section 2. Image data stored in the PDA 101 is transferredto the personal computer 1.

For example, the PDA 101 is configured as shown in FIG. 12

A CPU 111 through an input/output interface 115 have the same functionsas those for the CPU 21 through the input/output interface 25 of thepersonal computer 1 in FIG. 2.

An input section 116 comprises button, switches, etc. and is operated bythe user for entering specified instructions. A tablet 127 comprises atransparent member and detects an input generated when the user operatesa pen (not shown), etc. An LCD 118 is arranged under the tablet 117 anddisplays characters, shapes, etc.

Plate-shaped IC memory 119 contains semiconductor memory and can beattached or detached from the PDA 101. Here, a memory stick 119 is usedas the IC memory and appropriately stores text data or image data. Acommunication section 120 communicates with other apparatuses via thetelephone line.

An RF tag 121 internally stores a telephone number (or identificationnumber) of the PDA 101. The RF tag 121 may be replaced by ROM 112 or thememory stick 119.

Referring now to flowcharts in FIGS. 13 and 14, the following describesan example of processing performed when the PDA 101 is placed on theinput display section 2 of the personal computer 1 as shown in FIG. 11A.

As mentioned above, when the PDA 101 is placed on the input displaysection 2 of the personal computer 1, the telephone line is connectedbetween the personal computer 1 and the PDA 101.

When the user instructs transfer of an image, the CPU 111 of the PDA 101selects one of image data previously stored in the memory stick 119 atstep S101 in FIG. 13. At step S102, the CPU 111 controls thecommunication section 120 to transmit the selected image data to thepersonal computer 1 via the telephone line.

At step S103, the CPU 111 determines whether or not all image data istransmitted. When image data remains being unsent, the CPU 111 returnsto step S101 and repeatedly performs the subsequent process.

When it is determined that all image data is transmitted at step S103,the process terminates.

Incidentally, the personal computer 1 performs the process as shown inthe flowchart of FIG. 14. When image data is transmitted from the PDA101 via the telephone line, the CPU 21 receives the data via thecommunication section 27 at step S111 and supplies the data to the RAM23 for temporary storage. At step S112, the CPU 21 reads the imaged datastored in the RAM 23 and outputs it to the LCD 32 for display.

As shown in FIG. 11A, for example, the PDA 101 stores five images P1through P5. As shown in FIG. 11B, one image P1 is transferred from thePDA 101 to the personal computer 1. This image is stored in the RAM 23and is displayed on the LCD 32. According to the example in FIG. 11B,the image is displayed at the upper left of the PDA 101. The image canbe displayed at a position specified by the pen. At this time, thetransferred image disappears from the LCD 118 of the PDA 101. Theexample in FIG. 11B shows the transfer of one image P1 out of fiveimages P1 through P5 in FIG. 11A. The LCD 118 of the PDA 101 displaysfour images P2 through P5.

At step S113, the CPU 21 determines whether or not all the receivedimage data are displayed. When image data remains being undisplayed, theCPU 21 returns to step S111 and repeatedly performs the aforementionedprocess. When it is determined that all the received image data aredisplayed, the process terminates.

As shown in FIGS. 11C through 11F, images are sequentially transferredfrom the PDA 101 to the personal computer 1 in the order of P2, P3, P4,and P5 and are stored in the RAM 23. In accordance with this transfer,the LCD 32 sequentially displays images P2 through P5. As images aredisplayed in this manner, transferred images are sequentially deletedfrom the LCD 118 of the PDA 101.

FIG. 15 shows another example of interchanging information. In thisexample, the personal computer is replaced by a notebook computer. Thereader/writer 33 of the personal computer 1 in FIG. 2 is arranged to thebottom of a palm rest 152A on this personal computer 151. The internalstructure of the personal computer 151 is the same as that shown in FIG.2, and its specific illustration is omitted.

Hereinafter, processes for the personal computer 151 and the portabletelephone 11 in this case are described with reference to flowcharts inFIGS. 16 and 17. The configuration of the personal computer 1 in FIG. 2is used as is for that of the personal computer 151. Also in this case,placing the portable telephone 11 on the palm rest 152A of the personalcomputer 151 connects the telephone line between the portable telephone11 and the personal computer 151 as mentioned above.

At step S131 in FIG. 16, the CPU 21 of the personal computer 151displays an image representing the portable telephone 11 on the LCD 32.In the example of FIG. 15, an image 161 is displayed as the image of theportable telephone 11. This image 161 is displayed to the right of theLCD 32 when the portable telephone 11 is placed to the right of the palmrest 152A. It is displayed to the left of the LCD 32 when the portabletelephone 11 is placed to the left of the palm rest 152A.

At step S132, the CPU 21 displays an image 162 in FIG. 15 on the LCD 32as an image representing the personal computer 1.

At step S133, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the user specifiesinformation reception. When it is determined that no informationreception is specified, the CPU 21 proceeds to step S134 to determinewhether or not information transfer is specified. When it is determinedthat no information transfer is specified either, the CPU 21 returns tostep S133 ands repeatedly performs the subsequent process.

When it is determined that the user specifies information transfer atstep S134, the process proceeds to step S135. The CPU 21 performs aprocess for transferring information to the portable telephone 11.

On the LCD 32 in FIG. 15, for example, the user can specify informationtransfer by performing a drag-and-drop operation from the image 162 forthe personal computer 151 to the image 161 for the portable telephone 11in the direction of an arrow A. In this case, the CPU 21 transfersspecified data stored in the RAM 23 from the communication section 27 tothe portable telephone 11 via the telephone line.

When it is determined at step S133 that information reception isspecified, the process proceeds to step S136. The CPU 21 requests theportable telephone 11 to transfer information.

Namely, in FIG. 15, the user can specify information transfer from theportable telephone 11 to the personal computer 151 by performing adrag-and-drop operation from the image 161 to the image 162 in thedirection of an arrow B. In this case, the CPU 21 controls thecommunication section 27 to request the portable telephone 11 totransfer information via the telephone line.

When requested for information transfer, the portable telephone 11transfers information as will be described later. At step S137, the CPU21 waits until information is transferred. When information istransferred, the process proceeds to step S138. The CPU 21 receives thetransferred information via the communication section 27 and stores theinformation in the RAM 23.

The portable telephone 11 performs the process as shown in the flowchartof FIG. 17 in response to the aforementioned operations of the personalcomputer 151. At step S151, the CPU 61 determines whether or not arequest for information transfer is received from the personal computer151. When such request is not received, the process proceeds to stepS152. The CPU 61 determines whether or not information is transferredfrom the personal computer 151. When no information is transferred, theCPU 61 returns to step S151 and repeatedly performs the subsequentprocess.

When it is determined at step S151 that a request for informationtransfer is received from the personal computer 151, the CPU 61 proceedsto step S153. The CPU 61 then reads information stored in the RAM 63 andtransfers the information to the personal computer 151 from thecommunication section 69 via the telephone line.

When it is determined at step S152 that information is transferred fromthe personal computer 151, the CPU 61 proceeds to step S154. The CPU 61then supplies the information received at the communication section 69via the telephone line to the RAM 63 for storage.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a connection board. When two electronicdevices are placed on a connection board 171, the telephone line isconnected between the two devices, allowing data to be interchanged viathe telephone line.

In the example of FIG. 18, the PDA 101 and a digital camera 181 areplaced on the connection board 171.

The connection board 171 is configured as shown in FIG. 19, for example.A CPU 191 through an input/output interface 195 are basically the sameas the CPU 21 through the input/output interface 25 in FIG. 2.

Reader/writers 196 and 197 each perform communication between RF tags oftwo electronic devices. A communication section 198 performscommunication between two electronic devices via the telephone line.

A drive 199 is configured to appropriately install a magnetic disc 211,an optical disc 212, a magnet-optical disc 213, semiconductor memory214, etc. A program stored there is read appropriately and istransferred to RAM 193 for storage. FIG. 20 shows an example of aninternal configuration of the digital camera 181. A CPU 231 through aninput/output interface 235 are basically the same as the CPU 21 throughthe input/output interface 25 in FIG. 2.

An input section 236 comprises button, switches, etc. and is operated bythe user for entering specified instructions. An LCD 237 displays animage captured by an image pickup section 239 or an image stored in amemory stick 238 or RAM 233. The memory stick 238 can be attached ordetached from the digital camera 181 and stores images captured by theimage pickup section 239. An RF tag 241 internally stores the telephonenumber as an identification number of the digital camera 181. The RF tag241 performs communication with the reader/writer 196 of the connectionboard 171. A communication section 240 provides communication via thetelephone line.

First, with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 21, the followingdescribes a process of the connection board 171 for establishingconnection when two electronic devices (PDA 101 and digital camera 181in this case) are placed or moved close to each other on the connectionboard 171.

At step S171, the CPU 191 of the connection board 171 determines whetheror not the first PDA is placed or closely positioned. Namely, itdetermines whether or not the reader/writer 196 or 197 detectselectromagnetic coupling with the electronic device's RF tag. When thefirst PDA is determined to be placed or closely positioned, thecorresponding reader/writer 196 or 197 requests the PDA to send anetwork address. When the reader/writer 196 detects that the PDA 101 isplaced, the reader/writer 196 requests the PDA 101 to send a telephonenumber. In response to this request, the PDA 101 sends its telephonenumber. At this time, the PDA 101 performs the same process as thatdescribed for the portable telephone 11 according to the flowchart inFIG. 5. At step S173, the CPU 191 of the connection board 171 waitsuntil the telephone number of the PDA 101 is sent via the telephoneline. When the telephone number is sent, the CPU 191, at step S174,receives the telephone number of the PDA 101 via the communicationsection 198 and supplies the telephone number to the RAM 143 forstorage.

At steps S175 through 178, the other of the reader/writers 196 and 197(reader/writer 197 in this case) performs the same process as that forthe aforementioned steps S171 through S174.

In this case, the telephone number of the digital camera 181 is readfrom the RF tag 241 of the digital camera 181. The telephone number issupplied to the RAM 13 of the connection board 171 for storage.

At step S179, the CPU 191 of the connection board 171 establishestelephone line connection between the PDA 101 and the digital camera 181whose addresses are stored at steps S174 and S178, respectively. Thisallows the PDA 101 and the digital camera 181 to interchange data witheach other via the telephone line.

At step S180, the CPU 191 of the connection board 171 determines whetheror not the two PDAs (PDA 101 and digital camera 191) remain being placedor closely positioned. When they remain being placed or closelypositioned, the CPU 191 proceeds to step S181 to maintain the connectionestablished at step S179.

The process then returns to step S180. As long as the PDA 101 and thedigital camera 181 are placed or closely positioned on the connectionboard 171, the connection between the PDA 101 and the digital camera 181is maintained.

When a user removes at least one of the PDA 101 and the digital camera181 from the connection board 171, it is determined at step S180 thateither of the two devices is not placed or closely positioned. The CPU191 proceeds to step S182 to remove the connection established at stepS179. This disables the PDA 101 and the digital camera 181 fromcommunicating with each other via the telephone line subsequently.

Referring now to flowcharts in FIGS. 22 and 23, the following describesan example of a process between the PDA 101 and the digital camera 181when they are placed or closely positioned on the connection board 171.

At step S201 in FIG. 22, the CPU 111 of the PDA 101 determines whetheror not a user specifies information reception. When not specified, theCPU 111 proceeds to step S202 to determines whether or not informationtransfer is specified. When information transfer is not specifiedeither, the CPU 111 returns to step S201 and repeatedly performs thesubsequent process.

When it is determined at step S202 that the user specifies informationtransfer, the process proceeds to step S206. The CPU 111 reads datastored in the memory stick 119 and transfers the data to the digitalcamera 181 from the communication section 120 via the telephone line.

For example, the user may perform an input operation in the direction asindicated by an arrow C in FIG. 18. In this case, the CPU 111 assumesthe operation to be an instruction for transferring data from the PDA101 to the digital camera 181 and performs the aforementioned process.

When it is determined at step S201 that the information reception isspecified, the CPU 111 proceeds to step S203 and requests the digitalcamera 181 to transfer information. As will be described later, thedigital camera 181 transfers the information upon reception of thisrequest. At step S204, the CPU 111 waits until the information istransferred. When the information is transferred, the CPU 111, at stepS205, uses the communication section 120 to receive the transferredinformation via the telephone line and supplies this information to thememory stick 119 for storage.

This process is performed when the user operates the pen on the tablet117 in the direction indicated by an arrow D in FIG. 18, i.e., from thedigital camera 181 to the PDA 101.

Referring now to a flowchart in FIG. 23, the following describes aprocess for the digital camera 181.

At step S221, the CPU 231 of the digital camera 181 determines whetheror not a request for information transfer is received from the PDA 101.When no information transfer is requested, the CPU 231 proceeds to stepS222 to determine whether or not information is transferred from the PDA101. When no information is transferred, the CPU 231 returns to stepS221 and repeatedly performs the subsequent process.

When it is determined at step S221 that a request for informationtransfer is received from the PDA, the process proceeds to step S223.The CPU 231 then reads image data stored in the memory stick 238 andtransfers the data to the PDA 101 from the communication section 240 viathe telephone line.

When it is determined at step S222 that information is transferred fromthe PDA 101, the process proceeds to step S224. The CPU 231 thensupplies the information received at the communication section 240 viathe telephone line to the memory stick 238 for storage.

In this example, as mentioned above, two electronic devices caninterchange information when they are placed or closely positioned onthe connection board 171. A user can intuitively and safely manageinformation by controlling the security which permits informationtransfer only between two electronic devices placed on the same plane.

FIG. 24 shows yet another embodiment. This embodiment interchanges anidentification number via a user's human body. In this example, the userwears a headphone 261 on his or her head and holds the portabletelephone 11 in his or her hand. The identification number isinterchanged between the headphone 261 and the portable telephone 11 viathe user's human body 260.

The headphone 261 is configured as shown in FIG. 25, for example. A CPU271 through an input/output interface 275 are basically the same as theCPU 21 through the input/output interface 25 in FIG. 2.

An input section 276 is operated by the user to start or stop using theheadphone 261. A speaker 277 generates a voice signal received via acommunication section 279. A communication section 278 communicates withthe portable telephone 11 via the human body 260. The communicationsection 279 performs wireless communication via the telephone line.

The portable telephone 11 is configured basically the same as shown inFIG. 3. In this example, as shown in FIG. 26, the RF tag 72 in FIG. 3 isreplaced by a communication section 291. The communication section 291communicates with the communication section 278 of the headphone 261 viathe human body 260.

Otherwise, the portable telephone 11 is configured the same as shown inFIG. 3.

Referring now to a flowchart in FIG. 27, the following describes aprocess for the portable telephone 11 in the example of FIG. 24.

At step S241, the CPU 61 of the portable telephone 11 determines whetheror not the headphone 261 is detected by using the communication section291 to communicate with the communication section 278 of the headphone261 via the human body 260. When the headphone 261 is not detected, theCPU 61 waits until it is detected. This detection process is performedin such a manner that the communication section 291 periodically outputsa signal requesting a response and the CPU 61 checks for a response tothe request.

When it is determined at step S241 that the headphone 261 is detected(response returned), the process proceeds to step S242. The CPU 61requests the headphone 261 to send its network address. As will bedescribed later with reference to a flowchart in FIG. 28, the headphone261 responds to this request and sends its network address at step S266.

At step S243, the CPU 61 of the portable telephone 11 waits until itreceives the network address from the headphone 261 via thecommunication section 291. When receiving that address, the CPU 61proceeds to step S244 to supply the received network address of theheadphone 261 to the storage section 68 for storage. Then proceeding tostep S245, the CPU 61 waits until it is requested to send the networkaddress from the headphone 261. When requested, the CPU 61 proceeds tostep S246 to send the network address of the portable telephone 11 fromthe communication section 291 to the headphone 261 via the human body260. That network address is previously stored in the storage section68.

At step S247, the CPU 61 determines whether or not a network connectionis made to the headphone 261. When a connection is not established yet,the process proceeds to step S248. The CPU 61 accesses the networkaddress of the headphone 261 stored at step S244 to establish a networkconnection. Specifically, the CPU 61 controls the communication section69 to generate a call to the telephone number stored at step S244 as anetwork address of the headphone 261, connecting the telephone line.

When it is determined at step S247 that a connection is alreadyestablished, the process at step S248 is skipped.

At step S249, the CPU 61 of the portable telephone 11 performs aspecified process for the headphone 261 via the telephone line connectedby the communication section 69.

Corresponding to this operation for the portable telephone 11, theheadphone 261 performs a process as shown by a flowchart in FIG. 28. Theprocess at steps S261 through S269 is basically the same as that atsteps S241 through S249 for the portable telephone 11 in FIG. 27 exceptthat the target differs.

At step S267, the headphone 261 also determines whether or not a networkconnection is made to the portable telephone 11. For example, theprocess at step S268 is skipped when the telephone line is alreadyconnected to the portable telephone 11 due to the aforementioned processat step S248 for the portable telephone 11.

In other words, the process at step S248 for the portable telephone 11is skipped when the telephone line is already connected due to theprocess on the headphone 261.

In this example, the portable telephone 11 and the headphone 261 eachacquire the identification number of the other as mentioned above. Basedon the identification number, one makes a connection to the other viathe telephone line.

For example, a user, wearing the headphone 261, may use the portabletelephone 11 to access a given music distribution server and receivemusic data. In this case, the distributed music data can be transmittedfrom the portable telephone 11 to the headphone 261 via the telephoneline connected between the portable telephone 11 and the headphone 261.The user can listen to the music using the headphone 261 even if he orshe does not hold the portable telephone 11.

Wearing the headphone 261 equipped with a microphone, the user may usethe portable telephone 11 to call the other party. When the other partyresponds, the user can thereafter speak to the other party just by usingthe headphone 261 without holding the portable telephone 11.

Further, for example, the aforementioned body of the personal computer 1and a mouse used for it each can be provided with communication sectionsenabling communication via the user's human body 260. The userinterchanges identification numbers between them by touching the mouseand the personal computer body. Based thereon, the telephone line isconnected therebetween. Thereafter, the user can send a signalcorresponding to a mouse operation to the personal computer by operatingthe mouse without touching the personal computer body.

FIG. 29 shows transfer characteristics of a human body. Incharacteristic charts of FIGS. 29A and 29B, a spectrum analyzer is usedto measure transfer characteristics of a human body (between both hands)within the range from 1 to 20 MHz in FIG. 29A and within the range from1 to 30 MHz in FIG. 29B. In either case, a coaxial cable is connected toa tracking generator and an input terminal. During the experiment,coaxial cable grounds (GND) are connected to each other in order toprevent an antenna effect. FIGS. 29A and 29B show approximately flattransfer characteristics within the range around from 1 to 20 MHz,resulting in the attenuation of 30 through 40 dB.

For the measurement in FIGS. 29A and 29B, the tracking generator'soutput impedance and the spectrum analyzer's input impedance are both75Ω. Accordingly, if the impedance between both hands is one megohm fromthe viewpoint of an alternating current, the attenuation should be atleast −80 dB. Actually, however, the attenuation is very small. It canbe understood that this proves a possibility of signal transmission viathe human body.

The data transmission side can be considered to be a micro-dipoleantenna. There is fully analyzed the state of an electromagnetic fieldgenerated by this antenna. According to such analysis result, anelectromagnetic field generated by the human body is equivalent to thatgenerated by the micro-dipole antenna. The electromagnetic fieldstrength is represented by a vector sum of components which are ininverse proportion to distance R from the antenna, the second power ofdistance R, and the third power of distance R. These components arerespectively referred to as the radiant field, the induction field, andthe electrostatic field. Relational expressions for these are describedin detail in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No.7-170215.

FIGS. 30A and 30B depict electric field strengths. FIG. 30A is acharacteristic chart showing the relationship between an electric fieldstrength for each of the aforementioned and a distance from antennas.FIG. 30B shows electric field strengths and distances for a λ/2.2 dipoleantenna and a 3.4 cmφ loop antenna, and 8 cmφ and 3.4 cmφ loop antennasunder the conditions of frequency f=200 MHz and a transmission terminalvoltage=100 dBμV (75Ω). As shown in FIGS. 30A and 30B, strengths of theaforementioned radiant field (1/R component), induction field (1/(thesecond power of R) component), and electrostatic field (1/(the thirdpower of R) component) are equaled for the length of λ/2π. When thedistance is smaller than this value, the strengths increase drastically.When f=11 MHz, this distance becomes 4.3 m. Accordingly, it is desirableto adopt a transmission system which mainly uses the electrostaticfield.

It is preferable to select a range of electric field strength availableunder no legal restrictions on the electromagnetic interference (EMI).For example, the frequency should be 332 MHz or less, and the electricfield strength should be 500 μV/M or less.

As mentioned above, the electrostatic field attenuates on the basis ofthe third power of distance R. When the distance changes from 1 m to 3m, for example, the electric field strength attenuates 1/27(=1/(3×3×3)). Accordingly; the signal strength extremely attenuates asthe distance from a data transmission means increases. Even if aplurality of users uses similar apparatuses, it is hardly possible todetect the other users' signals as noises. Under a working conditionwhere there are many users carrying similar apparatuses adjacent to eachother, for example, mainly using the electrostatic field enablesexcellent communication.

The human body 260 touches part of the communication sections 291 and278 of the portable telephone 11 and the headphone 261. It is desirableto provide a wide area to this contact point. Examples of the contactpoint include a wrist watch, necklace, ring, bracelet, belt, shoe etc.which can be wound curvedly around a human body's finger, arm, neck,etc. Namely, it is preferable to configure the contact point so that itcan touch the human body's skin as widely as possible.

In the aforementioned example, the RF tag and the reader/writerinterchange identification numbers. It is also possible to interchangeidentification numbers by printing a bar code on each electronic deviceand reading the bar code.

Further, it is possible to use not only the input display section andthe notebook computer's palm rest, but also a mouse pad or a white boardas information processing apparatuses on which an electronic deviceshould be placed.

The identification number has been explained by using the telephonenumber as an example but is not limited thereto if it is needed toaccess the electronic device on the network.

It may be preferable to authenticate the other party by interchangingthe identification number.

In the aforementioned description, the telephone line is used as anexample of the network. It is also possible to use a LAN, wireless LAN,WAN, Internet, or Bluetooth applicable to various portable devices, etc.

The following describes a communication system which allows the RF tagand the reader/writer to interchange various information and establishesBluetooth communication based on the obtained information.

This communication system is configured the same as the informationprocessing system in FIG. 1. The personal computer 1 and the portabletelephone 11 in FIG. 1 respectively use the reader/writer 33 and the RFtag 72 to send and receive various information and perform Bluetoothcommunication based on the interchanged information. Namely, a Bluetoothmodule is built in each of the personal computer 1 and the portabletelephone 11.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of thepersonal computer 1 containing a Bluetooth module.

The personal computer 1 in FIG. 31 is configured basically the same asthe personal computer 1 in FIG. 2 and differs from the latter asfollows. First, a Bluetooth module 301 is provided. Second, as will bedescribed later, the reader/writer 33 notifies its identificationinformation to the portable telephone 11 by means of an electromagneticwave.

The Bluetooth module 301 communicates with a Bluetooth module 311 (seeFIG. 32) provided in the portable telephone 11 according to Bluetooth.

Bluetooth is a wireless communication specification standardized by theBluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group). Bluetooth provides communicationwith another device provided with a Bluetooth module (appropriatelyreferred to as a Bluetooth device) by using a 2.4 GHz band, i.e., an IMS(Industrial Science Medical) band.

A Bluetooth-based network is called a piconet or a scatternet comprisinga plurality of piconets connected with each other according to its form.The network contains Bluetooth devices working as a master and a slave.Hereinafter, a master Bluetooth device is just referred to as a master,and a slave Bluetooth device is just referred to as a slaveappropriately.

When the master starts communicating with a slave, the master generatesa radio wave at a specified cycle for detecting the slave. When theslave responds accordingly, the master specifies a slave Bluetoothdevice based on various information sent from the slave and startscommunication. Information notified to the master from the slavecontains Bluetooth addresses specific to respective Bluetooth devices(modules). Based on a Bluetooth address, the master specifies the slaveto communicate with.

Namely, the Bluetooth module 301 in FIG. 31 is also assigned with aspecific Bluetooth address which is assumed to be the same asidentification information (ID) of the reader/writer 33 in thiscommunication system example. As shown in FIG. 31, the identificationinformation of the reader/writer 33 is defined as identificationinformation A. The address of the Bluetooth module 301 is defined asBluetooth address A.

The portable telephone 11 in FIG. 32 is configured basically the same asthe portable telephone 11 in FIG. 3 and differs from the latter asfollows. First, a Bluetooth device 311 is provided. Second, the RF tag72 notifies its identification information, not the telephone number, tothe reader/writer 33.

In this portable telephone 11, the identification information of the RFtag 72 is defined as identification information B. The address of theBluetooth module 311 is defined as Bluetooth address B. Theidentification information of the RF tag 72 need not always be the sameas the address of the Bluetooth module 311. The identificationinformation just needs to include the address.

When receiving an electromagnetic wave generated from the reader/writer33, the RF tag 72 notifies identification information B accordingly.Based on identification information B obtained by the reader/writer 33,the Bluetooth module 301 of the personal computer 1 searches for aBluetooth device having the same Bluetooth address (Bluetooth address B)for establishing communication with the Bluetooth module 311 of theportable telephone 11.

With reference to a flowchart in FIG. 33, the following describes aprocess for making communication between the Bluetooth module 301 of thepersonal computer 1 and the Bluetooth module 311 of the portabletelephone 11. In the process of FIG. 33, the personal computer 1 worksas a master and the portable telephone 11 as slave. At step S311, thereader/writer 33 generates an electromagnetic wave for detectingterminals provided with RF tags including the portable telephone 11. Asdescribed with reference to FIG. 4 etc., this electromagnetic wave isperiodically generated at a sufficiently short cycle.

When receiving the electromagnetic wave at step S321, the RF tag 72 ofthe portable telephone 11 proceeds to step S322 to notify thereader/writer 33 of the predetermined identification information B. Thisidentification information (identification information B) of the RF tag72 is defined to be the same as the address of the Bluetooth module 311(Bluetooth address B).

At step S312, the reader/writer 33 receives the identificationinformation (Bluetooth address) notified from the RF tag 72. At step S313, the reader/writer 33 notifies the received identificationinformation to the Bluetooth module 301 via the input/output interface25.

At step S301, the Bluetooth module 301 receives the notification fromthe reader/writer 33. Based on the obtained Bluetooth address, theBluetooth module 301 proceeds to step S302 to search for a Bluetoothdevice having the address and request the device for connection (i.e.,request to start communication).

At step S331, the Bluetooth module 311 of the portable telephone 11receives the request from the Bluetooth module 301. The Bluetooth module311 then proceeds to step S332 to start communication with the personalcomputer 1 (Bluetooth module 301) as a Bluetooth device.

Specifically, there are performed various processes such assynchronization, authentication, etc. for communication. Then, thecommunication is made between the personal computer 1 and the portabletelephone 11. At steps S303 and S332 and thereafter, various informationis sent and received under the Bluetooth environment. In theaforementioned example, the personal computer 1 works as master and theportable telephone 11 as slave. Obviously, both may interchange thismaster/slave arrangement. When a reader/writer is also provided for theportable telephone 11, the latter detects presence of the personalcomputer 1. It may be preferable to establish the Bluetoothcommunication based on the identification information notified from theRF tag of the personal computer 1.

The aforementioned communication system obtains a Bluetooth address bymeans of communication between the RF tag and the reader/writer andestablishes Bluetooth communication based thereon. Such communicationsystem is applicable not only between the personal computer 1 and theportable telephone 11, but also between various devices.

For example, the aforementioned Bluetooth communication is availablebetween a hand-held device such as a portable telephone or a PDA and anapparatus such as a TV set, a vehicle navigation system, an automaticvending machine, or an ATM (automatic teller machine). In this case, theportable telephone and the PDA just need at least a Bluetooth module andan RE tag. The TV set, the vehicle navigation system, the automaticvending machine, and the ATM each just need at least a Bluetooth moduleand an RF tag's reader/writer.

The present invention is also applicable to communication betweenportable telephones, between PDAs, between a PDA and a digital camera,between a PDA and a digital video camera, etc. if either ofcommunicating parties has the reader/writer.

In the aforementioned example, the personal computer 1 specifies adevice for communication based on the identification informationnotified from the RF tag 72. Any information may be available as long asif it is identification information unique to the device.

For example, when each device is assigned with 128-bit IPv6 (InternetProtocol version 6) code, the master personal computer 1 can specify adevice for communication based on the identification informationnotified from the RF tag 72.

Software can be used to implement a sequence of the aforementionedprocesses. In this case, a computer contains special hardware in whichprograms constituting the software are installed. Alternatively, thesoftware is installed from a network or a recording medium, e.g., in ageneral-purpose personal computer which can perform diverse functions byinstalling various programs.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 19, the recording medium may be configuredindependently of the apparatus body in the form of a package mediumdistributed to users for providing programs. Such recording mediainclude the magnetic discs 41 and 211 (including a floppy disc), theoptical discs 42 and 212 (including CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read OnlyMemory) and DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), the magnet-optical discs 43and 213, the semiconductor memory 44 and 214, etc. which recordprograms. In addition, the recording medium may be pre-installed in theapparatus body to be provided to users in the form of the ROM 22 and192, a hard disc included in the storage section 26, etc. which recordprograms.

In the present invention, steps describing a program stored in arecording medium include not only a process which is performedchronologically according to the specified sequence, but also a processwhich is performed concurrently or individually, not alwayschronologically.

In the description of the present invention, the system signifies anoverall apparatus comprising a plurality of apparatuses.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention obtains identification information about a closelypositioned electronic device and communicates with the electronic devicevia the network based on the identification information. It is possibleto easily and reliably interchange data with the electronic device.

Further, the present invention communicates with an informationprocessing apparatus via the network. It is possible to easily andreliably interchange information with the information processingapparatus.

Moreover, the present invention allows the information processingapparatus to obtain identification information of the electronic devicewhen the electronic device is closely positioned over the informationprocessing apparatus. Based on the identification information,communication is made between the electronic device and the informationprocessing apparatus via the network. It is possible to easily andreliably interchange information between the information processingapparatus and the electronic device.

Furthermore, the present invention obtains each identificationinformation of the first and second electronic devices when both areclosely positioned. Based on the identification information,communication is made between the first and second electronic devicesvia the network. It is possible to easily and reliably interchangeinformation between the first and second electronic devices.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A first wireless communication device,comprising: a sending unit configured to send a wireless request signalto a second wireless communication device through a first wirelesscommunication link, wherein the first wireless communication link isinitiated when the first and second wireless communication devices arebrought into physical contact or close physical proximity to each other,and the wireless request signal includes first data associated with thefirst wireless communication device and which is utilized forestablishing communication between the first and second wirelesscommunication devices through a second wireless communication link; aconnection establishing unit configured to establish a connection to thesecond wireless communication device through the second wirelesscommunication link using the first data, wherein the second wirelesscommunication link is different from the first wireless communicationlink; a communication unit configured to send content data to the secondwireless communication device via the connection established through thesecond wireless communication link; a display; and a user inputcomponent, wherein the content data corresponds to a content that isbeing displayed on a display of the first wireless communication deviceat a time of the initiation of the first wireless communication link,and wherein the sending unit, the connection establishing unit, and thecommunication unit are each implemented via at least one processor. 2.The device of claim 1, wherein the user input component comprises apressure-sensitive transparent member overlaying the display.
 3. Thedevice of claim 2, wherein a pen is used on the pressure-sensitivetransparent member to effectuate user input.
 4. The device of claim 1,wherein the user input component comprises buttons.
 5. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the first wireless device is further configured toprovide, on the display, an icon representing the second wirelesscommunication device when the connection to the second wirelesscommunication device through the second wireless communication link isestablished.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first wirelesscommunication link uses an RF tag or another near field wirelesscommunication method.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the secondwireless communication link is established over one of a Bluetooth-basednetwork, a wireless local area network, a local area network, atelephone network, a wide area network, and internet.
 8. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the connection with the second wireless communicationdevice through the second wireless communication link is capable oftransmitting electronic mail message content.
 9. The device of claim 1,wherein the connection with the second wireless communication devicethrough the second wireless communication link is capable oftransmitting image data.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein theconnection with the second wireless communication device through thesecond wireless communication link is capable of transmitting musicdata.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the first data enables anauthentication process necessary to establish a connection with thesecond wireless communication device through the second wirelesscommunication link.
 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the firstwireless communication device is a portable telephone.
 13. The device ofclaim 1, wherein, with respect to the second wireless communicationlink, the first communication device serves as a master and the secondcommunication device serves as a slave.
 14. The device of claim 1,wherein, with respect to the second wireless communication link, thefirst communication device serves as a slave and the secondcommunication device serves as a master.
 15. An information processingmethod being executed by a first wireless communication device, theinformation processing method comprising: sending a wireless requestsignal to a second wireless communication device through a firstwireless communication link, wherein the first wireless communicationlink is initiated when the first and second wireless communicationdevices are brought into physical contact or close physical proximity toeach other, and the wireless request signal includes first dataassociated with the first wireless communication device and which isutilized for establishing communication between the first and secondwireless communication devices through a second wireless communicationlink; establishing a connection to the second wireless communicationdevice through the second wireless communication link using the firstdata, wherein the second wireless communication link is different fromthe first wireless communication link; and sending content data to thesecond wireless communication device through the second wirelesscommunication link, the content data corresponding to a content that isbeing displayed by the first wireless communication device at a time ofthe initiation of the first wireless communication link.
 16. The methodof claim 15, further comprising: monitoring an impedance to determine ifthe first and second wireless communication devices are in physicalcontact or close physical proximity to each other, wherein the step ofsending the wireless request signal occurs only when the monitoredimpedance indicates that the first and second wireless communicationdevices are in physical contact or close physical proximity to eachother.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein: the step of sending thewireless request signal occurs repeatedly unless a response signal isreceived; and wherein the method further comprises: waiting for a setperiod of time after the step of sending the wireless request signalbefore the step of sending the wireless request signal is repeated. 18.The method of claim 15, wherein the first wireless communication linkuses an RF tag or another near field wireless communication method. 19.The method of claim 15, wherein the second wireless communication linkis established over one of a Bluetooth-based network, a wireless localarea network, a local area network, a telephone network, a wide areanetwork, and internet.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the contentdata comprises a listing of electronic mail messages, including a senderand a subject of each listed electronic mail message.
 21. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the method further comprises: sending, based on arequest for a content of a requested electronic mail message selected bya user of the second wireless communication device, data correspondingto the requested electronic mail message to the second wirelesscommunication device through the second wireless communication link. 22.The method of claim 15, wherein the connection between the first andsecond wireless communication devices through the second wirelesscommunication link is capable of transmitting electronic mail messagecontent.
 23. The method of claim 15, wherein the connection between thefirst and second wireless communication devices through the secondwireless communication link is capable of transmitting image data. 24.The method of claim 15, wherein the connection between the first andsecond wireless communication devices through the second wirelesscommunication link is capable of transmitting music data.
 25. The methodof claim 15, wherein the first data enables an authentication processnecessary to establish a connection between the first and secondwireless devices through the second wireless communication link.
 26. Themethod of claim 15, wherein, with respect to the second wirelesscommunication link, the first communication device serves as a masterand the second communication device serves as a slave.
 27. The method ofclaim 15, wherein, with respect to the second wireless communicationlink, the first communication device serves as a slave and the secondcommunication device serves as a master.